NDP calls out Premier Smith over potential job losses in Alberta’s renewable sector

Alberta NDP Energy and Climate Critic Katherine Ganley is calling out Premier Danielle Smith and the Alberta government over the six-month moratorium on renewable energy projects, without any consultation from the industry itself and any transparency on the issue.

“Smith claimed the Alberta Electric System Operator, the AESO, requested the pause,” Ganley said.

CityNews asked AESO about it’s position on the pause, and was told, “The AESO has no further comment on this issue beyond what is stated in our letter.”

Their letter says “the AESO will support the AUC in its implementation of a government directed six-month temporary pause on new power plant applications.”

CityNews also reached out to Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) about the pause and they responded, “AUC provided the Alberta government with a letter outlining concerns that stakeholders expressed to the Commission.”

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The Alberta NDP says reviewing such concerns doesn’t justify a moratorium.

“Even if they requested a review or regulations like this is something that government does every day,” Ganley said. “You know, the PC government did it before us. We did it when we were a government that UCP government does all the time to its literal function of government to do these sorts of reviews and you can’t stop the world while you do that.”

Ganley adds she is “disgusted” by Smith’s reaction to potential job losses in the renewable sector.

“It’s six months — we think that’s a reasonable amount of time for us to be able to make the decisions that we have to,” the premier said at a press conference on Monday.

“She just shrugged and said in six months… that’s an insult to those hardworking Albertans,” Ganley said in response. “These Albertans want to work. They want to do the jobs that they had until Smith too them away. They want to build these power projects, and Albertans need them to build the power projects.”

The Alberta NDP is demanding the government immediately lift the pause on the project and conduct a public hearing.